2017 House Bill 4584

Mandate giving spina bifida information to new parents

Introduced in the House

May 4, 2017

Introduced by Rep. Hank Vaupel (R-47)

To mandate that a physician or other medical provider give an expecting mother or new parent specified information about spina bifida if this is detected in a fetus or newborn.

Referred to the Committee on Health Policy

May 31, 2017

Reported without amendment

With the recommendation that the substitute (H-2) be adopted and that the bill then pass.

June 14, 2017

Amendment offered by Rep. Andy Schor (D-68)

To also require health care providers to urge a second test due to the large number of false positives reportedly associated with these tests.

The amendment passed by voice vote

Amendment offered by Rep. Abdullah Hammoud (D-15)

To require the spina bifida website the bill proposes the state to maintain be updated within 90 days of new information becoming available.

The amendment failed by voice vote

Amendment offered

To require the spina bifida website the bill proposes the state to maintain contain a list of options for parents of a child with a spina bifida diagnosis before or after birth.

The amendment failed by voice vote

June 20, 2017

Passed in the House 64 to 43 (details)

To mandate that a physician or other medical provider give an expecting mother or new parent specified information about spina bifida if this is detected in a fetus or newborn. Opponents were concerned that these tests produce a large number of false-positive results.

Received in the Senate

June 21, 2017

Referred to the Committee on Health Policy